I spent most of the weekend curled up in bed nursing my migraines.  They began Friday morning when we had our Monthly Gathering, a wonderful morning of walking the labyrinth together except that I was in a bit of a haze from pain killers.  That afternoon I was able to get my infusion two weeks […]

Posted in Photos, Embodiment | 10 Comments »

I am Going to Start Living Like a Mystic 
Today I am pulling on a green wool sweater
and walking across the park in a dusky snowfall.
The trees stand like twenty-seven prophets in a field,
each a station in a pilgrimage–silent, pondering.
Blue flakes of light falling across their bodies
are the ciphers of a secret, an occultation.
I will examine their […]

Posted in Photos, Poetry, Nature and Creativity | 10 Comments »

I have been reading a wonderful article from The Way journal by Andrew Linzey who is a theologian and writer on animal theology.  I was delighted to discover that he has in fact published several books on the subject. 
Linzey writes: “People who keep animals have often made  an elementary but profound discovery: animals are not machines […]

Posted in Monastic Spirituality, Nature and Creativity, Embodiment | 19 Comments »

I am doing a little housekeeping and unpacking of more boxes here at the Abbey:

I have updated my Resource List to include blog friends (scroll to the bottom of the page).  One of the reasons I have never done this before is I am afraid of forgetting someone, so if I have done so, please do […]

Posted in Resources, Links to Websites | 4 Comments »

I am very touched by the response to my post yesterday both in comments and in email.  I knew opening up this vulnerable place would begin to shift things in me again, move me again to that place where honoring my body is a gift rather than a burden.  I am always struggling in some […]

Posted in Embodiment | 8 Comments »

We had our fifth Awakening the Creative Spirit session on Friday and Saturday.  The focus this time was on movement led primarily by my teaching partner Betsey.  I was eager to see our group of wonderful women participating as always, but also wondered how I would do during this session since my body hasn’t been […]

Posted in Embodiment | 10 Comments »

Greetings again dear readers,
I have added two different sets of photo notecards (trees and flowers) to my Offerings page, so head on over and take a peek (and better yet, order yourself a set or two!).  They are packaged with love and care and always a little extra treat.  
More reflections to come later in […]

Posted in Offerings | No Comments »

Celebrate this unlikely oracle,
this ball of fat and fur,
whom we so mysteriously endow
with the power to predict spring.
Let’s hear it for the improbable heroes who,
frightened at their own shadows,
nonetheless unwittingly work miracles.
Why shouldn’t we believe
this peculiar rodent holds power
over sun and seasons in his stubby paw?
Who says that God is all grandeur and glory?
Unnoticed in […]

Posted in Photos, Poetry, Seasons | 3 Comments »

Listen.
Can you hear it?
Can you hear the gentle quickening beneath the earth?
Tomorrow on February 2nd is the feast of Imbolc, Candlemas, the feast of St. Bridget, and Groundhog Day.  It is a cross-quarter day meaning it is the midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox.  The sun marks the four Quarter Days of […]

Posted in Photos, Seasons | 8 Comments »